Northern Ireland Heathland Habitat Surveys for Conservation Designation

NIEA surveys from 2010 to 2014 mapped dry heathland habitats in south-eastern Northern Ireland and Rathlin Island. The data was compiled by the Habitat Survey Team, Conservation Science, focusing on areas large enough to be considered for designation as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs). Evidence was gathered from ground reconnaissance, ortho-photography, and existing site knowledge.

Use Cases

• Visualizing the distribution of priority dry heathland habitats based on survey evidence.
• Analyzing potential Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) based on mapped habitat extent.
• Integrating habitat survey data into environmental dashboards for monitoring.
• Conducting spatial analysis for conservation planning in south-eastern Northern Ireland and Rathlin Island.

Strengths

• Data collection involved multiple evidence sources: on-the-ground reconnaissance, ortho-photography, and existing site knowledge.
• Surveys were conducted over a defined period from 2010 to 2014 by a dedicated Habitat Survey Team.

Limitations

• The survey concentrated on known areas and may not represent the entire extent of heathland across Northern Ireland.
• Row count and column-level documentation are absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Habitat Survey Team, Conservation Science.

Collection Method

Mapped using evidence from on-the-ground reconnaissance surveys, ortho-photography, and existing knowledge.

Time Range

2010 - 2014

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-18 11:23:07.025734; freshness should be verified.

Geography

South-eastern areas of Northern Ireland and Rathlin Island.